Ritz Cracker Chicken Casserole

This comforting, dare we say nostalgic, Ritz cracker chicken casserole is deceptively easy to make, considering how much savory satisfaction it will provide. The recipe combines fresh sour cream and butter with soft, cubed chicken and cream of chicken soup into a simple casserole filling, with the buttery, crunchy Ritz cracker topping an ideal complement to the velvety sauce. Round out the meal with simple sauteed green beans, a green salad and buttery dinner rolls.

Ingredients for Ritz Cracker Chicken Casserole

• Chicken: The cubed chicken breast or thighs (or a mix of both) will make this a protein-packed casserole.
• Cream of chicken soup: You need two cans of cream of chicken soup, undiluted.
• Sour cream: Rich sour cream makes for a luscious filling in this chicken and Ritz cracker casserole.
• Ritz crackers: Toasty, buttery Ritz crackers are an ideal topping for casseroles.
• Butter: Melted butter mixes with the crushed crackers so they bake up ultra-crunchy.
• Celery seed: Season the cracker topping with a bit of aromatic celery seed.
• Fresh parsley (optional): Minced fresh parsley adds some freshness to the cooked casserole.

Directions

Step 1: Combine the chicken and sauce

Preheat the oven to 350°F, and grease a 13×9-inch baking dish. Combine the chicken, soup and sour cream, then pour the mixture into the prepared dish.

Editor’s Tip: Poaching chicken breasts is an easy way to cook chicken for this casserole.

Step 2: Make the topping

Combine the crushed crackers, butter and celery seed, then sprinkle the mix on top of the chicken.

Editor’s Tip: To crumble the crackers with minimal mess, use your hands to crumble them up right in the sleeve.

Step 3: Bake the casserole

Bake the casserole, uncovered, until it’s golden brown and bubbly, 30 to 35 minutes. Before serving, garnish with minced fresh parsley, if desired.

Ritz Cracker Chicken Casserole Variations

• Amp up the topping: In addition to, or instead of, celery seed, try other seasoning blends that go well with poultry, like herbes de Provence or Italian seasoning.
• Add veggies: Frozen peas or broccoli florets are a simple way to add veggies to this quick and nourishing meal. If you want to add other aromatic vegetables like onions or celery, saute them before adding them to the casserole ingredients. Tender fresh vegetables like zucchini can be added in directly, just like frozen veggies.
• Change up the cream: Instead of two cans of cream of chicken soup, try switching one or both out for cream of mushroom or cream of celery.

How to Store Ritz Cracker Chicken Casserole

Cover any leftovers and store them in the refrigerator for up to three days.

Can you freeze Ritz cracker chicken casserole?

Make a double recipe, or divide the recipe for chicken Ritz cracker casserole into two smaller dishes, and wrap it extra well for freezing. Wrapping the dishes in aluminum foil then sliding them into a zip-top bag will help keep freezer burn and off-odors at bay.

Ritz Cracker Chicken Casserole Tips

Can I use raw chicken instead of cooked?

The cooking time for this Ritz cracker chicken casserole recipe isn’t long enough to cook raw chicken safely. You can, however, use rotisserie chicken as a shortcut.

What if I don’t have Ritz crackers?

Not a problem. Other buttery crackers will also work, like Townhouse or Club.

Is there an alternative to cream of chicken soup?

If you prefer to skip the canned stuff, here’s a simple recipe for making your own homemade cream of chicken soup. You are basically making a seasoned roux with chicken broth, and it can be ready in just 15 minutes.